If I create an image of partition D, can I install it on E leaving me with 2 installs of the same OS using Win7's recovery tools? I currently have Win7 Pro and Win7 HP installed on 2 different partitions and I want to clone PRO to the HP partition. Thanks...
If want to dual Boot Windows 7 32bit & Windows 64 bit, you will need two lic keys.
I have the resources to do a new install, but I would rather copy the existing PRO over the existing HP - makes life simple...
I have done many, many installs and I am currently running 3 operating systems plus a data partition. Back to my orginal question, can I write an image from one partition to another one unsing Windows 7 restore tools? And again, thanks...
You can image it with free Macrium Reflect which will let you reimage it where you want.
Since it isn't important to copy the MBR, I would just boot free Partition Wizard CD, delete HP partition, then Move Pro over to it's unallocated space, giving it a new drive letter.
This will work fine since you don't want to copy the MBR anyway. MBR needs to remain on the first partition, where you can install EasyBCD 2.0 beta (after doing quick forum registration to use beta) then on Add/Remove tab add the newly copied Pro to Dual Boot menu.
Thanks gregrocker. The only thing I see in your suggestion is that Windows 7 does not have a MBR, it uses BCD (Boot Configuration Data) which is DOS oriented - isn't it great when M$ gets a better idea. During my experiments, I have noticed that each OS that is installed gets its' own copy of the BCD and drive letters mean nothing; all 3 OS's I have installed boot to C:\ and the other change.
I think I have the same/similar issue, with a twist... I have an HP Laptop that comes with a Recovery DVD set for Win7 Pro 32-bit & another set for 64-bit. I would like to be able to do a restore of one, take a copy, then do a restore of the other... shrink it, and then dump the image onto the 2nd partition, and ensure that I am able to boot to the one I want (I am guessing Easy BCD will sort them out)
Actually, thinking about it some more... I guess there would be nothing stopping me (it's a 500Gb drive) from creating 2 x 150Gb partitions for the two O/S' and the balance for the Data (given how easy it is to relocate it in W7), that way either boot could share the same mail & data.
I have a separate license for Win7 Pro 32-bit, so licensing is covered off okay, but will it really be that easy? Is there a difference between (I use Acronis True Image Home) taking a copy of the C-drive, Vs taking a clone of it (not the MBR)?
Hoping this isn't too off the OP topic, but would appreciate the advice / confirmation.
rdwray: i have 4 partitions on my primary harddisk, previously i had: Vista, W7, Programs, Docs.
but since you get best performance with the operating-system at the beginning of the harddisk, i decided to swap Vista & W7 because W7 is now my primary O/S.
i only kept Vista as i previously had some problems with my graphics-driver on W7.
as i also had Vista left on harddisk 2 which previously was my primary disk, i booted that system and then used Macrium, made a copy of both Vista & W7, formatted both partitions and moved W7 & Vista.
the only problem i had was to get the drive-letters right, i want the active system to be C, and the passive to be D.
running W7: W7=C, Vista=D
running Vista: Vista=C, W7=D
i first tried to let W7 be the "bootmanager", there was no problem to boot both system, in W7 i could easily change the drive-letters, but not in Vista.
Vista decided that W7 was C, and did not let me change it !
it took some time before i finally found the solution, i use Vista as "bootmanager" instead,
now the letters are exactly the way i want them.
i have later replaced Vista with Windows Server 2008 ( converted to Workstation), so WS-2008 is "bootmanager" now.
you donīt have to use EasyBSD-beta, the "normal" version works with Vista, WS-2008 & W7.
Download EasyBCD 1.7.2 - NeoSmart Technologies
Your best bet would to follow this tutorial: ( use Windows 7 x86 & windows 7 x64 not Vista)
Dual Boot Installation with Windows 7 and Vista
Given that the O/S used mainly would be the 64-bit version, I am guessing from what you've said... it would be better on the C partition, and the 32-bit on the D?
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